I know that seems like a ludicrous question, but we live in a world that is ready to accept and believe any ‘cutsey’ meme, video, artsy word picture, social media claim, or celebrity tirade; so I would like us to consider bringing “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (See 2 Cor. 10:3-5)? Are we willing to measure with God’s plumb-line? Or have we become accustomed to just measuring by our own/the world’s judgment, without regard to the real truth of what God has said? Who/what is influencing your perceptions and actions?

“The idols of the heathen

are silver and gold,

the work of men’s hands.

16 They have mouths,

but they speak not;

eyes have they,

but they see not;

17 They have ears,

but they hear not;

neither is there any breath

in their mouths.

18 They that make them

are like unto them:

so is every one

that trusteth in them.” Psalm 135:15-18

While we may not bow down to ‘statues’ of gold and silver, we do have modern idols (as well as the old-fashioned statues and figures that are worshipped by some) that the enemy uses to draw us from God—to distract us from the truth, by feeding us half-truths—pretty, sweet-sounding platitudes! And when I looked up the word, platitudes, I almost laughed out loud! It’s the perfect description of most of the ‘media’ we are enamored with!

Platitudes: a flat, dull or trite remark, especially one uttered

as if it were fresh or profound; the quality or state of being flat, dull or trite.

Isaiah received a message from The Lord about the blindness of mankind.

“And he said,

Go,

and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat,

and make their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and convert,

and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10

We live in a culture that ‘marches’ for or against so many things that you can’t keep up with it; but the issue isn’t will we ‘march’, but will we return to God. We want to stop violence, but we don’t want God and His ways. We want to stop ‘disease’, but we aren’t willing to make God first in our lives rather than our flesh. We want to stop ‘abuse’ of various kinds, but we aren’t willing to seek God’ face and call ‘sin’ sin! We want our own way, and we want to have the abundant blessings of God, but we aren’t willing to accept HIS principles, hear His Gospel, recognize our sin, repent and be saved—we want our way NOT HIS! That will always bring consequences. Only Jesus changes hearts! God makes it clear:

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary

in well doing:

for in due season

we shall reap,

if we faint not.” Galatians 6:7-9

Let’s get ‘back to basics’ by delving into His Word and learning to recognize and discern ‘good from bad’ (See 1 Kings 3:9)! Only God sets the true moral compass—and yes there still is one, but we must ‘seek’ Him! We won’t ‘fall into it’ by chance; and the devil will never tell you the truth (See John 8:44)!

Paul gave the Corinthian believers a caution regarding the difference between the spiritual things of God (God’s way) and the natural man (without God), and I think we can gain great insight from it, for, as Solomon put it, “there is no new thing under the sun” (See Ecclesiastes 1:9). While this is a lengthy passage, I want us to consider these truths and take them to heart, so I’ll just print it out here and pray that you will ponder, with me, what we are doing with what we see! Are we willing to judge what we hear (and see) by what we ‘find’ in God’s Word, and live accordingly, or are we living by the world’s ‘platitudes’?

“And I, brethren, when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness,

and in fear,

and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching

was not with enticing words

of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration

of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom

among them that are perfect:

yet not the wisdom of this world,

nor of the princes of this world,

that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God

in a mystery,

even the hidden wisdom,

which God ordained before the world

unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew:

for had they known it,

they would not have crucified

the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written,

Eye hath not seen,

nor ear heard,

neither have entered into the heart of man,

the things which God hath prepared

for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us

by his Spirit:

for the Spirit searcheth all things,

yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man,

save the spirit of man which is in him?

even so the things of God knoweth no man,

but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received,

not the spirit of the world,

but the spirit which is of God;

that we might know the things

that are freely given to us

of God.

13 Which things also we speak,

not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;

comparing spiritual things

with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not

the things of the Spirit of God:

for they are foolishness unto him:

neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.

15 But he that is spiritual

judgeth all things,

yet he himself is judged of no man.

16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord,

that he may instruct him?

But we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-16

And for good measure, Paul told us what “the mind of Christ” looks like! Are we reflecting HIS mind in us, or the world’s?

Ezekiel was a Levitical priest taken into Babylonian captivity during the second siege of Jerusalem; there he was called to prophecy to the people during their captivity. You might say that while Jeremiah was called the ‘weeping prophet’, Ezekiel was the ‘graphic prophet’—for God called him to act-out various ‘skits’ before the people showing what was yet to come in Jerusalem/Judah! And while there was very little good news, God did give us a mighty picture of what He thinks about our sin—whether it’s open or hidden.

“And he put forth the form of an hand,

and took me by a lock of mine head;

and the spirit lifted me up

between the earth and the heaven,

and brought me in the visions of God

to Jerusalem...” Ezekiel 8:3a

Ezekiel was taken in this vision to Jerusalem, but what God showed him was heartbreaking; and I think if we will receive the message ourselves, our hearts may be broken too! Maybe we can start to see things the way that God sees them, and that’s what we need to do all the time.

“He said furthermore unto me, Son of man,

seest thou what they do?

even the great abominations

that the house of Israel

committeth here,

that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations.

7 And he brought me to the door of the court;

and when I looked,

behold a hole in the wall.

8 Then said he unto me,

Son of man,

dig now in the wall:

and when I had digged in the wall,

behold a door.

9 And he said unto me,

Go in,

and behold the wicked abominations

that they do here.

10 So I went in and saw;

and behold every form of creeping things,

and abominable beasts,

and all the idols of the house of Israel,

pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

11 And there stood before them

seventy men of the ancients

of the house of Israel,

and in the midst of them stood

Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,

with every man his censer in his hand;

and a thick cloud of incense went up.

12 Then said he unto me,

Son of man, hast thou seen

what the ancients of the house of Israel

do in the dark,

every man in the chambers of his imagery?

for they say,

The LORD seeth us not;

the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

13 He said also unto me,

Turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

that they do.

14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate

of the LORD’S housewhich was toward the north; and, behold,

there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

15 Then said he unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

turn thee yet again,

and thou shalt see greater abominations

than these.

16 And he brought me into the inner court

of the LORD’S house,

and, behold,

at the door of the temple of the LORD,

between the porch and the altar,

were about five and twenty men,

with their backs toward the temple

of the LORD,

and their faces toward the east;

and they worshipped the sun

toward the east.

17 Then he said unto me,

Hast thou seen this, O son of man?

Is it a light thing to the house of Judah

that they commit the abominations

which they commit here?

for they have filled the land

with violence,

and have returned

to provoke me to anger:

and, lo,

they put the branch

to their nose.” Ezekiel 8:6-17

I know this is a lengthy passage, but it’s important that we see that just claiming to be God’s own, isn’t what it’s all about! The nation of Israel had disregarded the worship of God and gone their own way! But even more heart-breaking is the fact that they didn’t walk away, but they brought all their idols, and abominations, and wickedness into God’s house! The place that was to represent to them, the very presence of God, they had disregarded so much that they brought all of their ‘ways’ into His house and abandoned HIM!

Much like the church of today, which has chosen so often, to replace God’s way with the world’s way! We are no longer contented to seek God’s way, to spread the undiluted Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ The Lord; but have invited the world to come in with their glitz and glamour, so to speak, to replace the truth of God. We no longer cling to The Word of God, we trust to popular psychology, men’s ideas, plans and programs instead of the Gospel of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel was shown a religious people—even the leaders of the nation and the temple—yet they had brought idolatry, false worship, and abominations into the sanctuary of God! How it breaks my heart that we have so abandoned the piety that used to represent the church. I’m not talking about arrogance or hypocrisy, but a genuine regard for the purity and humility that God’s Word calls us to. As well as the desire to cling to and preserve biblical standards, and the exclusivity of the Gospel!

“I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die

in your sins:

for if ye believe not

that I am he,

ye shall die

in your sins.” John 8:24

We are all born in sin, but we have the opportunity to choose life in Jesus. As Jesus told the religious people of His day, and us today—if we don’t believe that HE IS the God-Man-Savior, we will die in our sin—HE is the only cure for the penalty of sin.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.” John 14:6

Even the Apostle Paul calls us to singularity of purpose—to preach Christ alone for the salvation of men, women, boys and girls!

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined

not to know any thing among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Jesus is not only our only hope—He is the One who saves and transforms lives to the glory of God, and for our good. He came to save us from sin—not leave us in it!

“ And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name

Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23

Jesus came to be “God with us”, to pay for our sin! Sin is the issue, no matter how our culture renames it, colors it, or tries to make it look acceptable—Sin Is Sin! It is, it has been, and it will always be the issue!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

Yet, because God loves us, we don’t have to die for our own sin!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.” Romans 6:23

I hate to be so repetitive, but with so many voices around us denying the truth of the Gospel, I must proclaim HIS truth, no matter how old the message seems! Jesus makes it perfectly clear in His conversation with Nicodemus.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.” John 3:16-19

We can never be good enough to gain God’s favor, or work our way into heaven, but when Jesus saves us, He makes us new creatures IN Himself, because HIS blood cleanses us from sin, and makes us new!

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship

one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us

from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess

our sins,

he is faithful

and just to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:5-9

John wrote that if we continually walk in darkness, we ought to check out what we think saved us. He says that we are deceived if “the truth is not in us”, for Jesus IS the truth, and if His truth isn’t in us (in the person of the Holy Spirit), HE isn’t in us—and if HE isn’t in us, then we can’t walk in the light!

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not

the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.” Romans 8:8-9

It is the Holy Spirit of God who imparts the new life to us and comes to dwell within those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, by the blood of Jesus. It is Jesus’ blood and His righteousness that helps us be what HE saves us to be.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us

to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world

unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses

unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation…….

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 & 21

Jesus took our place when He died on Calvary, and God imparts His righteousness to us when we receive HIM, because HE took our sin upon Himself on that cross! Praise God for His amazing grace, love and mercy.

But back to Ezekiel and his people; are we lying to ourselves and others just like Israel did? Have we brought our idols into HIS church? Have we, are we now, trying to conform the church to the world? Or are we willing to stand fast and hold the church to God’s biblical standard? Would we rather accept whatever makes people feel good about themselves; or are we willing to speak the truth in love, trusting to God to bring them to the cross for whatever need they may have? Have we died to self, that we might live to Christ Jesus our Lord with our whole being?

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it

upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend

of the world

is the enemy of God.” James 4:1-4

James was writing to those in the church—he called those who were being friends of the world—adulterers and adulteresses! Who is your friend? Jesus or the world? Only you can choose. And no matter who you may fool in this life, you can never fool God. Are you measuring life by God’s standard or the world’s? What are your idols? Or will you join me in asking God to help us to be a “living sacrifice” to our God—on HIS terms?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.

3 For I say,

through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God hath dealt

to every man

the measure of faith.” Romans 12:1-3

Are you leading others to be conformed to Jesus? Or is the world conforming you to the image of itself? May God open our eyes to see truth—His truth.